Most people know Steve Carell as the star of The Office, but he has built a career beyond everyone’s favorite awkward boss Michael Scott. He has starred in both comedies and dramas and voiced several animated characters. While he is especially good at comedy and playing characters who are completely unaware, some of his best performances have been surprisingly serious. These eight productions show off the talent of Steve Carell.
1. The Office
Steve Carell became a household name playing Michael Scott on The Office. As the manager of a small paper company, Michael desperately wants his employees to see him as a cool friend and hilarious boss. He tries way too hard and lacks the self-awareness to realize how uncomfortable he makes every situation. Carell did wonders with the role, somehow making Michael irritating, relatable, ridiculous, vulnerable, and lovable all at once. Even when he is rude, racist, and highly inappropriate, he manages to keep the audience on his side through the character’s more endearing qualities.
2. The 40-Year-Old Virgin
The 40-Year-Old Virgin took Carell from a television actor to a major movie star. He plays Andy, a shy and naive electronics-store employee. When his coworkers find out that he has never had sex, they immediately make it their mission to change that. The story leads to plenty of embarrassing situations and includes lots of terrible advice. This is definitely a raunchy comedy; however, it is also surprisingly sweet. Carell also co-wrote the movie with director Judd Apatow, helping to create the well-suited role.
3. Little Miss Sunshine
Carell proved he could handle a much quieter and more dramatic role in the heartfelt Little Miss Sunshine. This is dark comedy at its finest, equal parts hilarious and devastating. He plays Frank, a depressed middle-aged man who has just survived a suicide attempt. Soon after leaving the hospital, he joins his sister and her dysfunctional family on a road trip. The family’s old Volkswagen bus becomes the setting for arguments, emotional breakdowns, disappointments, and some truly funny moments. The movie became a hit and won two Academy Awards.
4. Foxcatcher
In Foxcatcher, Carell plays a completely different character from his usual roles, eccentric millionaire John du Pont. Based on a disturbing true story, the movie follows du Pont’s interactions with Olympic wrestlers Mark and Dave Schultz. Carell manages to portray a man who is cold, unsettling, and unpredictable. The performance proved that he could handle a dark dramatic role. In fact, he earned an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor.
5. Crazy, Stupid, Love.
In Crazy, Stupid, Love., Carell plays Cal Weaver, a middle-aged husband with a comfortable life. It all falls apart when his wife declares that she wants a divorce. After meeting the young, stylish Jacob, played by Ryan Gosling, Cal gets a lesson in how to reinvent himself and navigate life as a newly single guy. This seems like a pretty straightforward romantic comedy, but it becomes super complicated. Carell’s chemistry with Gosling makes for some of the film’s funniest scenes.
6. The Big Short
Carell took on another dramatic role in The Big Short, Adam McKay’s darkly funny movie about the 2008 financial crisis. He plays Mark Baum, an angry hedge fund manager based on the real-life Steve Eisman. Baum and his team soon realize how unstable the housing market and mortgage system truly are. Carell’s character stays intensely furious throughout, but he still finds moments of humor. The movie manages to be entertaining and understandable despite revolving around complicated financial concepts.
7. Despicable Me
Carell created one of his most recognizable characters without ever appearing on screen. In Despicable Me, he voices Gru, a scheming supervillain. Gru plans to steal the moon but then finds himself fathering three orphaned girls. The character’s strange accent, over-the-top personality, and slow transformation into a committed dad are all extremely fun to watch. Carell continued voicing Gru in multiple sequels and spinoffs, making the character one of the longest-running roles of his career. Even without Carrell’s physical comedy, his voice performance gives Gru a huge amount of personality.
8. Beautiful Boy
Beautiful Boy is responsible for giving Carell one of the most emotional roles of his career. Based on the memoirs of David and Nic Sheff, the movie follows a father desperately trying to help his teenage son struggling with drug addiction. The son, played by Timothée Chalamet, hits several roadblocks throughout the film and goes through repeated relapses. The performance is definitely worlds away from the broad comedy that made Carell famous. The painful and difficult-to-watch movie shows just how much dramatic range he has.